Hose coupling



jm 16, m5 L, F STROUT 2,367,447

HOSE COUPLING Filed 001;. l0, 1942 INVENTOR BY//WMV y .I ATTORNEYiwatented Jan. i6, 1945 HOSE COUPLING `Kleeman F. Strout, Stamford,Conn., assignor to F. A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company, Stamford, Conn.,a corporation of Connecticut Application October 10, 1942, Serial No.461,544 2 illaims. (Cl. 285-86) This invention relates to a hosecoupling, and more particularly to means whereby the parts of a hosecoupling are secured to a flexible hose, as for example. a hose made offabric and rubber. More particularly, my invention relates to that typeci hose coupling in which a coupling body having an internal bore isadapted for assembly to a flexible hose.

A feature of my invention resides in means whereby the end of a flexiblehose is forced against the surface of the internal bore of the couplingbody to form a tight union therebetween. More particularly, this featureof my invention includes an expander for expanding the end of theilexlble hose against the surface of the internal bore of the couplingbody.

As a further feature of my invention, the means for expanding the end ofthe hose against the surface of the internal bore of the coupling bodypreferably takes the form of what may be termed a coupling sleeve thatis in screw threaded relation to the coupling body, and is provided withan expander portion that is adapted to move axially into the end of theflexible hose as the said sleeve is rotated on its threads relatively tothe coupling body.

A still further feature of my invention resides in the construction ofthe coupling sleeve whereby it may be readily rotated on its screwthreads relatively to the coupling body into expanding relation to theend of the hose.

I have found that the axial and rotary movement of the expander portionas set forth supra, will tend to rotate that portion of the hose that iswithin the internal bore of the coupling body and thus tend to twist theend of the hose so as to distort it and even fracture it.l

A further feature of my inventionl resides in the provision of means forrestraining the end of the hose against rotation relatively to thecoupling body as the expander portion is driven home. A more particularfeature of this part of my invention resides in the provision of meansformed on the surface of the bore of the coupling body for cooperationwith the end of the hose to restrain the hose against rotation.

A further feature of my invention resides in the provision of aprotective sleeve to be inserted in the end of the hose so as to protectthe hose against injury by the expander portion as it is driven home.

Still a further feature of my invention resides in a special fixtureadapted for cooperation with my hose couplingfor maintaining in xedrelation the coupling body and the hose immediately outside the couplingbody as the coupling sleeve is rotated to expand the end of the hose,all as heretofore set forth.

l have thus outlined the several more important features of my inventionin order that the detailed description which follows may be betterunderstood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be betterappreciated. Those skilled in the art will of course understand that thebasic conception on which 'my invention is based may be embodied instructures of physical form other than those that I shall hereinclescribe. It is therefore important that the claims to be granted meshall be suiciently broad to prevent the adoption and utilization byothers of the basic conception of my invention in such other physicalforms.

For a description of my invention I shall refer to the drawing whereinFig. l is a view showing the hose coupling of my invention assembled tothe end of a hose. Fig. 2 is a vertical view through the assembly ofFig. 1 but showing the parts before the expander portion of the couplingsleeve has been driven home to force the hose against the surface of theinternal bore of the coupling member. Fig. 3 shows the parts of Fig. 2when the coupling sleeve has been driven home. Fig. 4 is a section alonglines Ilof Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an exploded view of a modified form of thecoupling body and the end of a rubber hose particularly adapted forcooperation with this form of coupling body. Fig. 6 shows in section theinsertion of a protective sleeve within a flexible hose. Fig. 'Iillustrates the fixture used for assembling the coupling of my inventionto the end of a hose.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing and especially Figs. 1, 2and 3, a flexible hose of the class well known in the art is designatedby reference numeral IIJ while the bored coupling Ibody forming part ofmy invention is illustrated by reference numeral II. A coupling nut isdesignated by reference numeral I2 and is shown rotatable on a couplingsleeve I3 for the purpose of securing the coupling sleeve I3 to a secondpiece of hose or a screw threaded faucet as the case may be.

The coupling body II is formed with a necked sleeve portion I4 that isinternally screw threaded at I5 for cooperation with screw threads I6formed on coupling sleeve I3. The main part of the coupling body II isalso sleeve-like in form and has a relatively large internal bore whosesurface is designated generally by reference numeral I1 and ispreferably formed with a series of ridges I8 that may assume the variouspositions on the surface Il shown best in Fig. 2. What may be termed asealing surface on the coupling body is designated generally byreference numeral I9 and may include a groove 20 into which the hose isforced (Fig. 3) when expanded against the surface I1 of the internalbore as will be described presently.

As well shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the coupling sleeve I3 has formed thereona cone-shaped expander portion 2I that in the initial assembly of theparts in Fig. 2 is partially inserted within the hose I0. If now, thecoupling sleeve be rotated, its screw threaded relation to the couplingbody II will effect axial movement thereof from its position of Fig. 2to its position of Fig. 3 where in it will be noted that its expanderportion 2i has forced the surface of the hose IIJ against the surface I1of the coupling body so as to form a very tight seal between the two. Itwill be appreciated that during this rotation of the coupling sleeve i3,the end of the hose I has been maintained against rotation by theseveral ridges I3 and has thus prevented a twisting of tite hose and aconsequent deformation thereof. In Fig. 3, a washer 22 is shown insertedagainst the end of the coupling sleeve I3 so that the coupling sleevemay be assembled relatively to a faucet or other coupling member by thenut I2 all as is well known to those skilled in the art.

For rotating the coupling sleeve relatively to the coupling body II, theinternal bore 23 of the coupling sleeve has a pair of flattened surfaces24. It is obvious that any square tool inserted into the bore 23 of thecoupling sleeve will cooperate with the surfaces 24 so that the saidcoupling sleeve may be rotated. The formation of the surfaces 24 isprobably best illustrated in Fig. 4. In this figure there is also wellillustrated the coaction between the ridges I8 and the hose I 0 formaintaining the hose and coupling body against relative rotation as thecoupling sleeve I3 is driven home.

In Fig. a modified form of coupling member is illustrated, and isdesignated by reference numeral 25. Instead of having ridges I8 formedto prevent rotation of the end of the rubber hose, two or more V-shapedlugs 26 may be formed within the coupling body. These lugs preferablycoact with similarly shaped out out portions 2l formed on the end of thehose Illa to maintain the hose against rotation when the coupling sleeveI3 is rotated. It is obvious that lugs 26, or lugs similar thereto maybe used either alone or in combination with ridges I8 for preventing therotation of the hose. The type of means to be used for preventingrotation of the hose will depend to a considerable extent on thethickness and strength of the hose that is used, and in some cases maynot be required at all.

In Fig. 6, the hose ID is shown with a protective sleeve 28 insertedtherein. This protective sleeve may be formed of metal such as lead, itbeing obvious that the lead sleeve 28 will readily be deformed bytheexpander portion 2l of the coupling sleeve I3 while acting to protectthe hose against abrasion by the coupling sleeve as it is rotated whilebeing driven home.

In Fig. '7 I show a fixture for assembling the parts of a coupling of myinvention relatively to the end of a hose. In this figure, the fixtureis shown formed of duplicate parts 30, the assembling of which yields arelatively large bore II and a relatively small bore I2. The relativelysmall bore 32 is corrugated for cooperation with the end of the hose I0that protrudes from the coupling body II. The relatively large bore 3|is adapted for cooperation with the coupling body itself, it beingobvious that when the two parts 30 are clamped together, the hose andcoupling body will each be maintained against rotation. 'Ihe insertionof a square tool against the flat surfaces 24 of the bore 23 of couplingsleeve I3, will allow for rotation of the coupling sleeve I3 to drivethe expander portion 2| to the position of Fig. 3. During this rotationof the coupling sleeve I 3, it is obvious that both the coupling bodyand the hose outside the coupling body will be maintained againstrotation. It is of course clear that preferably during this rotation ofthe coupling sleeve I3, that portion of the hose within the couplingbody II is also maintained against rotation by the several meanssuggested so that there will be no twisting of the hose or consequentdeformation of the same.

I believe that the operation and construction of my invention will nowbe quite clearly understood.

I now claim:

l. In a hose coupling, an internally bored coupling body adapted forassembly to the end of a flexible hose, a substantial length of the endof said hose fitting into the internal bore of said coupling body forassembly thereto, a coupling sleeve in screw threaded relation to saidcoupling body, a threaded nut mounted about said coupling sleeve, meanswhereby said sleeve holds said nut against endwise removal from saidsleeve, a hose expander portion on said coupling sleeve adapted foraxial movement in the internal bore of said coupling body when saidsleeve is rotated on said screw threads relatively to said couplingbody, a squared portion formed in the bore of said sleeve forcooperation with a tool inserted through said threaded nut into saidsleeve whereby said sleeve is rotated relatively to said body, saidaxial movement of said sleeve effecting the movement of said expanderportion internally of said hose end whereby to expand said hose endagainst the surface of the internal bore of said coupling body to form atight joint between said hose and coupling body.

2. In a hose coupling, an internally bored coupling body adapted forassembly to the end of a flexible hose, a substantial length of the endof said hose fitting into the internal bore of said coupling body forassembly thereto, a coupling sleeve in screw threaded relation to saidcoupling body and having a hose expander portion adapted for axialmovement in the internal bore of said coupling body when said sleeve isrotated on said screw threads relatively to said coupling body. saidaxial movement of said sleeve effecting the movement of said expanderportion internally of said hose end whereby to expand said hose endagainst the surface of the internal bore of said couplingbody to form atight joint between said hose and coupling body, and a protective sleeveof relatively plant material within the said hose end relatively towhich said expander portion moves whereby said protective sleeveprotects said hose from injury by the said expander portion.

LEEMAN F. STROUT.

